Mining machine transmission mechanism



June 13, 1939. L. E. SIMMONS 2,161,835

MINING MACHINE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed March 50, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l v w w x 1 52 g Y 0 o o o w\ m m a o. .H O b I. m P; wm \\m Leona Simmons June 13, 1939. SIMMONS 2,161,835

MINING MACHINE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed March 30, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I .[rwenzww I Leon LC. Jimmom June 1939- 1.. E. SIMMONS 2,161,835

MINING MACHINE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed March 30, 1936 '5 Sheets-Sheet 3 m I Qw, Ry

, 60725. 527727720725 y 4 WW June 13, 1939. 1.. E. SIMMONS MINING MACHINE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed March 30, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 QW QR 150072202: Lewzzxiz'mmmza Patented June 13, 1939 MINING MACHINE TRANSMISSION -MECHANISM Leon E. Simmons, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a. corporation of Massachusetts Application March 30, 1936, Serial No. 71,656

12 Claims. (Cl. 74-389) This invention relates to mining machines, and vention may be embodied in mining machines of more particularly to improvements in the feedvarious other types. As illustrated, the mining ing mechanism of a coal mining machine of the machine comprises a machine frame I having a flexibly fed, floor cutter type. plane bottom surface 2 adapted to rest upon and An object of this invention is to provide an imslide in any direction over the mine floor. The 5 proved mining machine feeding mechanism. machine frame comprises a motor section 3, a Another object is to provide an improved feeding feed frame section 4 and a bottom bed section 5, mechanism for a coal mining machine of the the motor and feed frame sections being supflexibly fed, room and pillar, floor cutter type. ported on the bed frame section 5 with the motor A further object is to provide an improved minsection arranged at the forward end of the mal ing machine feeding mechanism wherein relachine. As shown in Fig. 5, the bed frame section tively rotatable feed operating and controlling is in the form of a skid plate 6 having upturned members respectively adapted to cooperate with sides I, I secured as by screws 8 to longitudinal flexible feeding and controlling elements, are emflanges 9 depending from the bottom surfaces of ployed for feeding and guiding the machine. the motor and feed frame sections, and this bed 1 Still another object is to provide an improved frame provides achamber l0 extending longitransmission mechanism for driving the feed 0pu a y th g the length of the ac crating and controlling members at either a high frame beneath the motor and feed frame secor a low speed under frictional control at either tions. Secured within the machine frame, and speed. A still further object is to provide an improjecting within the chamber in the lower bed 0 proved transmission mechanism wherein sepaframe 5 is an elongated horizontal plane cutter rate fast and slow speed drives are employed for bar I I having mounted on its margin for circulaindependently rotating the feed operating and tion thereabout an endless cutter chain l2, the controlling members. A still further object is cutter bar projecting from the chamber Ill forto provide an improved transmission mechanism wardly from the forward end of the machine having a novel and extremely compact arrangeframe in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Arment of the transmission gears. Other objects ranged in the chamber 10 and between the skid and advantages of the invention will, however, bottom and the bottom of the motor section is a hereinafter more fully appear. cutter bar support [3 (see Fig. 3) on which the In the accompanying drawings there is shown cutter bar H is suitably mounted. The motor for purposes of illustration one form which the section 3 contains a motor 14, herein preferably invention may assume in'practice. of the reversible electric type, having its power In these drawingsshaft l5 horizontally disposed and extending lon- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coal mining machine gitudinally of the machine. Keyed to the rear having embodied therein the illustrative form of end of the motor power shaft I5, as shown in Fig. 5

the improved feeding mechanism. 3, is a bevel gear I6 meshing witha horizontal Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the mining bevel gear I! integrally formed with a vertical machine shown in Fig. 1. shaft IS. The shaft 18 is journaled at its upper Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in longitudinal secend in a ball bearing supported within a top covtion taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. er plate IQ of the feed frame section and at its Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken sublower end within a ball bearing seated within the I stantially on line 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3. recessed lower face of the bevel gear ii and sup- Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substanported by a vertical stub shaft 20 keyed within a tially on line 5-5 of Figs. 1 and ,4. supporting bracket 2| mounted within the feed Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal section taken frame. Keyed to the shaft I8 above the bevel 5 substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 4. gear IT is a spur gear 22 meshing with a large Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view taken substan- Spu gear 23 arranged within the feed frame for V tially on line 'l-'l of Fig. 4. rotation about a vertical axis parallel with and Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken substanat the rear of the vertical shaft l8 in the manner tially on line 8-3 of Fig. 4. shown in Fig. 3. The hub 24 of the spur gear 23 In this illustrative embodiment of the invenis i urnal d o a b a sleeve 25 supported y tion the improved feeding mechanism is incora vertical shaft 26, herein arranged coaxially porated in a coal mining machine of the flexibly with the spur gear 23. The shaft 26 is journaled fed, room and pillar, floor cutter type, although at its upper end within a ball bearing supported it will be evident that various features of the inby the cover plate l9 and at its lower end within 5;.

60' ing with the large sp ur gear 23 arehorizontal spur gears 60 and 6| keyed to vertical shafts 62' positiomthe cutter chain sprocket 30 -may be' a clutch sleeve 32 journaled on the bearing sleeve and having clutch teeth 33 connectible by a sliding clutch'member 34 to clutch teeth 35 formed on a clutch element 36 keyed to the shaft 26. The clutch member 34 is operated by a clutch shipper yoke 31 pivotally mounted at 38 Within.

the feed frame and; as shown in Fig. 8, having a projecting arm 39 formed with a bore 40. Slidably mounted in the arm bore is a plunger'4 I pivotally connected at 42 to a lever 43 keyedto a transverse operating shaft 44. Fixed to the end of the shaft 44 and/arranged exteriorly of the feeclframeis an operating lever 45.- It will thus be seen that when the clutch 34 is in connected drivenfrom the motorthrough the bevel gearing I6. IT, spur gearing 22, 23, clutch members 32, 34 and 36 and verticalshaft 26. As the cutter chain is circulated-about the margin of the cutter bar during the cutting operation, the cuttings broughtlback fromthe-kerf by the cutter chain are carried into the'chamber I0 and. are discharged from the chamber through the rear end of the machine frame.

Now referring to the improved feeding mochanism, it will be noted that formed integrally with the hub 24 of the spur gear 23 below thelatter is a spur gear meshing, as shown in Fig. 5, with horizontal spur gears 5I' and 52; These spur gears are keyed to the upper ends of parallel l vertical shafts 53 and 54 respectively, arranged at the opposite sides of and equi-distantly spaced from the cutter chain drive shaft 26. The shafts 53 and 54 are journaled near their upper'extremities within ball bearings supported within brackets 55 mounted within the feed frame and at their lower extremities within'ball bearings supported iwithin the lower portion of "the feed frame.

Fixed. to the, shafts. 53'; 54 respectively are slow speed worms 56; 51. The teeth of these worms are of the same pitch. but are of opposite inclination and mesh with the teeth ofthelow' speed wormwheels58 and; 59 respectively, arranged in'coaxial relation on horizontaltaxes extending transversely of the machine framein advanceof a transverse vertical plane including the axes of the vertical shafts 53," 54;- Since the shafts 53, rotate in the samedirection and the teeth of the worms 56, 51 are of opposite inclination, the

worm'wheels 58 and 59 are relatively rotated in opposite directions. As shown in Fig. 5; mesh and 63'; respectively, herein arranged parallel with theshafts 53 and 54 outside the latter. The upper ends of the'shafts 62; 63 are journaled within ball bearings supportedwithin the cover plate I9 and at. the lower ends within ball bearingssupported within the lower portion of the feed'frame, and fixed'to theseshafts are high speedworms 64.and 65 respectivelyhaving teeth of thesame; pitch but of opposite inclination meshing with" the jteeth ofthe high speed worm wheels 66 and 61. The wormwheels 66, B'I'are arranged coaxially'iwit-h the worm wheels58jand 59; as shown in Fig. 4; The wormwheels 58 and 59 are each prospring locking clips 91-engaging the lever.

vided on their opposite sides with hubs 60 jour naled on ball bearings supported by a tubular clutch member 69 arranged coaxially with the Worm gears. Arranged coax ially with and extending centrally through the clutch members 69 are alined shafts I2 and I3 journaled at their inner ends within. ball bearings supported within bearing brackets T4 mounted, Within thefeed frame and near their outer ends within ball bear- 7 ings supported within bearing brackets I5 formed integral with cylindrical bearing members I6 attached; to the sides of the feed frame section.

The clutch members 69 are keyed to the shafts I2, 'I3iand the wormwheels 50 and 59 are connectible' to the clutch'members by multiple disc clutches" I1. Arranged-coaxially with the worm wheels 66 and 61 are tubular clutch members 18 having hubs supporting ballbearings on which the hubs.

IQ-of the worm wheels 66 and 61 are journaled, and these clutch members 18 are likewise keyed to the alined shafts I2 and" respectively. The

worm wheels 66 and 6'I'are connectible to the clutch members 18 bymultiple disc clutches 80.

' The shafts I2 and 13' terminate at their outer extremities in'spur'gears 8| and 82meshing with inter'nalgears 83 and 04 respectively formedon the flanges 85 of feed operating and controlling members 86 and 81'. are herein in the form of cable Winding drums and have wound thereupon feeding and controlling cables 88 and 89- respectively. The cable winding drums 86 and181'i are'arranged in-coaxial relation at oppositesides of the machine frame, the drum axes lying in vertical planes parallel with vertical planes including the worm shaft axes and the axes of the shafts I2 and'1'3, the vertical plane including the drum axes arranged between said parallel verticalplanes in the manner shown in Fig. 4. Each of the cable winding drums has a hub 90 journaled on a bearing sleeve 9| supported by aneccentric sleeve 92 in turn rotatably mountedon the-cylindrical bearing por- These members 86 and 81 tion 16. Theeccentric sleeves 92 are each pro-V vided with projecting lugs pivotally connected at r 93 to a lever-94. The outer ends-of the bearing portions 16- have-fixed thereto members 95 transversely slotted at'96, and the'levers 94 are swingable within these slots and held locked therein by When the levers 94 are seated within-the slots 96 the eccentric-sleeves 92 are locked to the cylindrical bearing portion 16, and when the levers arere-,

leased from the slots 96the-eccentric sleeves 92 may be rotated relative-to'the bearing portion 76 to-movethe internal gearson the drums out of mesh with the spur'driving gears 8| and 82.

The means for operating the clutches-11 and r 80 for both drums are-identical in design and therefore the description of one will suffice for both. Slidably mounted on the inner adjacent hubs of the worm wheels 66 and 58 is a ball bearing clutch applylng ring I00 engaged by a shipper yoke IOI pivotallymounted and alined shafts I02, I02, journaled within the feed frame. Keyed to therear'end' ofthe rear shaft I02 is a lever I03 projecting within a slot I04formed in the forward side ofa transversely reciprocable rack bar I05 guided within a bracket. I06 attached to the feed frame; The teeth I01 of this rack bar mesh with teeth I08 of a spirally toothed scroll member I09 having a shaft portion IIO-journaled withinthe bracket I06. Keyed to a reduced portion of the shaft IIOis-a lever III. When the scroll l09 isrotated by the-lever- III the rack shaft 7 I 05 is slid" within its guideways. relative to the bracket I06, thereby swinging the lever I03 to rotate the shaft I02, and as a result, the shipper yoke IllI is swung to slide the clutch applying ring into clutch applying position, thereby to apply one or the other of the disc clutches IT and 80. It will thus be seen that when one or the other of the clutches I1, 80 is applied, the cable winding drums may be driven in cable winding direction at either a high or low speed, one drum rotating in the opposite direction from the other so that the cables extend to the bottoms of the drums as they are wound in. Formed integrally with the feed frame and projecting rearwardly therefrom is a horizontal shelf-like portion or ledge I I5, and journaled on this shelf-like portion are horizontal guide sheaves I I6 and i H and inclined guide sheaves H8 and IIS, while journaled on projecting brackets I20 at the outer sides of the machine frame are horizontal guide sheaves I2I and I22. Supported on a bracket I23 attached to the advancing side of the forward portion of the machine frame is a guide sheave I25, and the sheave or bracket is detachable from the machine frame for transposition to the opposite side of the machine frame, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The feed cables may be extended in various manners from the cable winding drums around these various guide sheaves to effect feed of the machine in the manner well understood by those skilled in the art.

The machine is preferably transported over considerable distances within the mine by being carried by an ordinary mine truck which moves on the usual track rails laid in the various passages in the mine. Such a truck forms no part of the present invention other than its cooperation with a truck driving element on the ma chine whereby .a portion of the transmission mechanism may be employed for eifecting truck propulsion. The truck driving means on the machine comprises, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, a spur gear I2'I keyed to the hub 24 of the spur gear 23 and meshing with a spur gear I28 keyed to a vertical shaft I29. The upper end of the shaft I259 is journaled within a ball bearing supported by a detachable bearing bracket I30 mounted within the feed frame and at its lower end within a ball bearing supported within the lower portion of the feed frame. Keyed to the shaft I29 is a bevel gear I3I meshing with a bevel gear I32 integrally formed with a shaft 533 suitably journaled within ball bearings supported within a bracket I34 attached to the rear end of the feed frame. The shaft I33 is horizontally disposed and extends longitudinally of the machine, and has keyed thereto a truck driving member I35 arranged within a socket I36 formed within a cylindrical portion E31 integral with the bracket I 3 5. When the mining machine is moved onto its transport truck, a truck driving element on the truck is adapted to enter the socket I35 and engage the truck driving member I35 so that the truck wheels may be driven from the motor through the bevel gearing i6, 51, spur gearing 22, 23, I21, I28, bevel gearing i3I, 532, shaft I33 and truck driving member I35.

The general mode of operation of the improved feeding mechanism will be clearly apparent from the description given. During feeding of the machine, the feed cable 88 is extended from the bottom of the feed drum 86 forwardly along the advancing side of the machine and laterally around the front guide sheave I25, while the controlling cable 89 is extended from the controlling drum 81 in a rearward direction at the receding side of the machine and laterally around the guide sheave I22. When the disc clutches controlling drum rotation are applied, the cable winding drums may be rotated in winding direction at either ahigh or a low speed to wind in the cables 88 and 89. During the transverse cutting operation, the controlling drum 81 may be disconnected from its drive and the paying out of the controlling cable 89 may be regulated by slipping the disc'clutch so that the cable 89 is unwound from the drum against the resistance of the disc clutch. As is usual in mining machines of the room and pillar type, the feeding and controlling cables are so arranged as to effect sumping of the cutter bar beneath the coal, transverse feeding of the cutter bar across the coal face and finally withdrawal of the cutter bar from beneath the coal to com plete the cut. The machine may be moved rapidly over the mine floor by either of the cable winding drums at a relatively high speed under the control of the disc clutches 8B. Either of the drums 86, 3! may be released for free rotation simply by operating the levers 94 to rotate the eccentric sleeves, thereby to move the internal gears on the drums out of mesh with the drum driving gears. By reversing the motor, rearranging the cables on the drums, and reversing the cutters of the cutter chain, the machine may, of course, be operated in the opposite direction. Other uses and advantages of the improved miniig machine feeding mechanism will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining machine transmission mechanism, in combination, a vertical drive shaft, means for driving said shaft including a driving gear arranged coaxially with said shaft at the upper end thereof and means for operatively connecting said gear to said shaft, relatively rotatable members to be driven, and motor operated means for independently rotating said members at either high or low speeds including separate high and low speed transmission means, one high and low speed transmission means in-= dividual to the drive for each member, and means for driving said transmission means by said shaft driving gear including gears meshing with the latter.

2. In a mining machine transmission mechanism, in combination, a vertical drive shaft, means for driving said shaft including a driving gear arranged coaxially with said shaft at the upper end thereof and means for operatively connecting said gear to said shaft, relatively rotatable members to be driven, and motor operated means for independently rotating said members at either high or low speeds including sep arate high speed transmission means, one individual to the drive for each member, said high speed transmission means including gears mesh ing with said shaft driving gear, separate low speed transmission means, one individual to the drive for each member, and a gear arranged coaxially with and below said shaft driving gear and dri'ven by the latter, said low speed transmission means including low speed gears meshing with .and driven by said coaxial gear.

3. In a mining machine transmission mechanism, in combination, a vertical drive shaft, means for driving said shaft'including a driving gear arranged coaxially with said shaft at the upper end thereof and means for operatively connecting said gear to said shaft, relatively rotatable members to be driven, and motor operated" means for' independently rotating said members at either high or low speeds including separate high and low speed transmission means, one high'and low speed transmission means in-,

dividual'to the drive for each member, and

means for driving said high and low speed transmission means by said shaft driving gear ineluding high speed transmission driving: gears meshing with the latter.

4. In a mining machine transmission mecha nism, in combination, a driveshaft, means for driving said shaft including a driving gear disposed i-ncoaxial relation with said shaft at one end thereof and; means for oper'atively connecting said driving gear to said shaft, relatively rotatable members to be driven, and'motor operated 5 means forindepen'dently rotating said members at either high or low speeds including a driving "gear coaxial with said shaft driving gear and arranged near theisameendof the shaft as the latter, separate high speed; gear trains driven by said shaft driving gear, and separate low speed gear trains driven'by said second mentioned gear;

5. In a mining machine transmission mechanism, in combination, a drive shaft, means for driving said shaft including a driving gear disposed in coaxial relation with said shaftat one end thereof and means for operatively connecting said driving gear to said shaft,re'latively ro-' tatable members to bdriven, and motor operated means for independently rotating said memdriving gear coaxial with said shaft driving gear hers at. either high or low speeds including a and arrangednear'the same end of :the shaft as the latter, said second mentioned gear driven by said shaft driving gear, separate high speed gear trains driven by said shaft driving gear, and

separate low speed gear trains driven by said second mentioned gear. j

6. In a mining machine transmission mechanism, in combinatiorna vertical drive'shaft, means for driving said shaft including a driving gear disposedin coaxial relation with said shaft at one end thereof and means for operctively connecting said driving gear to said shaft, relatively rotatable members to be driven, and motor operated means for independently rotating said'members' at either high or low speeds including a driving gear coaxial withsaid shaft driving gear and arranged near thesame'e'nd of the shaft as the latter, separate low speed gear members ateither high or low speeds including a driving gear coaxial with said shaft driving. gear and arranged near the same end of the 7 shaft as the latter, low speed gears arranged on vertical axes parallel with said shaft, axis and driven by one of said coaxial gears, one low speed gear individual to the drive for each member, high speed gears aranged on vertical axes parallel to said shaft axis and driven by: said other coaxial gear, one high speed gear individual to the drive for each member, and gears meshing with and'driven by said high and low speed gears.

8. Ina mining machine transmission mecha-' nism, in combination, a casing enclosing a chamber and having spaced parallel walls, relatively rotatable members to be driven arranged ex-' teriorly of said casing on axes parallel to said walls, and 'motor operated means for independently rotating said members "at either high or low speeds including coaxial driving gears arranged within said chamber means supported by said spaced' walls and on which said coaxial gears are journaled, separate low speed gear trains driven by one of said coaxial gears and arranged within said chamber, and separate high speed gear trains driven by said other gear and likewise arrangedwithin said chamber.

. 9. In a mining machine transmission mechanism, in combination, a casing enclosing a cham ber and having spaced parallel horizontal walls, relatively rotatable members to be driven arranged ext'erio-rly of said casing, andmotor operated means for independently rotating said members at eitherhigh or low speeds including 00- axial driving gears rotatable about. a vertical axis in adjacency to the upper wall .ofsaid casing, separate low speed gear trains driven by one 10. In a mining machine transmission mecha nism, in combination, a casing enclosing a cha n. ber and having spaced parallel horizontal Walls, a vertical drive shaft journaled within said cham ber in bearings supported by said spaced walls, an element arranged exteriorly of said casing and driven by said drive shaft, means for driving said shaft including adriving gear arranged Within said chamber and means for operatively connecting said gearto said'shaft, relatively rotatable members" to be driven arranged exteriorly of said casing, and means for independently rotating said members at either high or low speeds including separate high and low'speed transmission means arranged within said chamber, one

high and low speed transmission means individual to the drive for eachmember, said high and low speed transmission means driven by said shaft driving gear and including high speed gears meshing with'the latter; 11. In a mining'm'achine transmission mechanism, in combin-ation, a casing enclosing'achamber and having spaced. parallel horizontal walls,

a vertical drive shaft journaledwithin said chamber in bearings supported by said spaced walls, an element arranged exteriorly of said casing and driven by said'drive shaft, means for driving said shaft including a driving gear arranged within said chamber andmeans for operatively connecta arranged within said chamber, one such transr,

mission means individual to. the drive for each 75 member and driven by said shait driving gear, said high speed transmission" means including high speed gears meshing with said shaft driving gear, separate low speed transmission means arranged within said chamber, one transmission means individual to the drive for each member, and a gear coaxial with anddriven by said shaft driving gear for driving said low speed transmission means.

12. In a mining machine transmission mechanism, in combination, a casing enclosing a chamher and having spaced parallel horizontal walls, a vertical drive shaft journaled within said casing in bearings supported by said spaced walls, means for driving said shaft including a driving gear arranged within said chamber and means for operatively connecting said gear to said shaft, relatively rotatable members to be driven arranged exteriorly of said casing, and means for independently rotating said members at either high or low speeds including separate high and low speed transmission means arranged within said chamber, one high and low speed transmission means individual to the drive for each member, said high and low speed transmission means driven by said shaft driving gear and said high speed transmission means including high speed driving gears meshing with said shaft driving gear.

LEON E. SIMMONS. 

